Heavy rain triggers landslides in Uttarakhand, rivers in spate

Uttarakhand braced for monsoon fury as heavy overnight rains left all major rivers in spate and triggered landslides blocking key arteries in the disaster-prone state.

While the average rainfall in the state was being compiled, Kapkot received 100 mm of rainfall followed by Uttarkashi 58 mm, Munsyari 53 mm, Tabakpur 39 mm and Rudhraprayag 30 mm over the past 24 hours.

Official sources said that the Ganga, Mandakini, Alaknanda, Kali, Sharda and Saryu rivers were flowing close to the danger mark along their courses across the state.

In Haridwar, the Ganga was flowing just 2.45 metres below the danger mark of 294 metres.

Mandakini river, which had created havoc last year after the June flashfloods, was also flowing just four metres below the danger mark of 620 metres.

According to the state’s disaster management centre, the national highways leading to Char Dhams were blocked at few places owing to landslides.

The government said it was a keeping vigil on the situation and has provided satellite phones to officials for uninterrupted communication.

“Officials deployed at various places are coordinating and are fully prepared,” claimed cabinet minister Indra Hridyesh.

The metrological department has predicted light to moderate rains in many parts of Uttarakhand in the next 24 hours.

The department has also predicted heavy rains in few places of Kumaon.

Uttarakhand had witnessed the death of over 6,000 people in flashfloods last year which had also left a trail of destruction in the large parts of the state.

There are fears that in the event of a another natural disaster, the government may not be able to reach affected people in the upper reaches due to the poor condition of roads.The road network had taken a battering in last year’s floods.